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Christian faith formation is important for lifelong growth in the knowledge, service and love of God as followers of Christ. Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey, no matter what season of life you are in, you are invited to enter into a prayerful practice of continuous learning.
The Work of the Holy Spirit
St. Mark's Seminarian, Scott Sumner, is only with us through Pentecost. Come and take advantage of what he has to share with our community by joining in a lively Bible-based discussion around ways in which the Holy Spirit works in and through the life of St. Mark's. The conversation will take place in the Old Library (next to Pastor Debra's office) from 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. on Sunday mornings, April 26, May 10, and May 17.
Older Adult Challenges & Caring for the Caregiver
If You are of an Age...or Have a Loved One Who is....What you Should Know. Yes, this should cover everyone! Kate Curler of Curler Law and Steve Steiber, Ph.D. of Creative Care Management will join us on Sunday, May 3 from 9:30 - 10:15 in Bethlehem Chapel to discuss issues of aging:
? The importance of disability planning and advocacy;
? Medicaid planning;
? Veteran's benefits;
? The new DNR - POLST
? Making what you want to happen...happen.
And please bring your own questions about aging well...and being well-prepared for aging. Hope you'll join us!
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Worship
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In the baptismal covenant, we are asked, "Will you continue in the apostles' teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers?" and we respond, "I will, with God's help."
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Feast of St. Mark: Isaiah 52:7-10; Ephesians 4:7-8,11-16 ; Mark 16:15-20
"Let me announce the decree of the LORD: he said to me, "You are my Son; this day have I begotten you." - Psalm 2:7
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This Sunday's Lay Ministers
Thank you to the following parishioners for sharing their time and talent with the congregation this week. If you would like to become involved, please contact Pastor Debra at 847-732-9564 or [email protected].
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Lector: Lynette Murphy & Aina Gutierrez
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Eucharistic Ministers: Ted Richardson & Joanna Greene
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Acolytes: Eva Sondgeroth, Sara Basha, Abigail Seifert
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Eucharistic Visitors: Andrea Nowack & Ric Ashley
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Altar Guild: Dorothy Laudati & Beth Johnson
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Vestry Persons of the Day: Aina Gutierrez & Betsy Sagan
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Ushers: Tacia Johnson & Alison Walsh
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Coffee Hour Snacks: Last names beginning with
O - Z
- Welcoming New Worshippers: All the People of St. Mark's!
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 Feast of St. Mark Celebration
On Sunday, April 26 at 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. we will celebrate the 151st Anniversary of St. Mark. We will be commissioning our Lay Eucharistic Visitors at both services. These are lay persons who will take the bread and wine of our Sunday morning celebration to share it with those in our community who are unable to be present with us. In addition, as is our custom on our Patronal Feast day, we will announce and honor the Lion of the Year - a person so honored because of their love, commitment and service to our Lord and to this community. Who will it be? Come and see! Finally, members of the combined St. Matthew's / St. Mark's Confirm not Conform class, their families and their mentors have also been invited to worship with us this day. Please help us to welcome everyone! . . . . and, the color of our feast day is RED; all are invited to wear red (St. Mark's t-shirts are especially encouraged). It should be a grand occasion!
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Acolyte Retreat
On Saturday, May 2 from 10 a.m. - noon all Acolytes and those who are interested in becoming an Acolyte, are invited to attend this mini-retreat with Bruce Gaede and Pastor Debra. We will practice processions, setting the table for communion, and answer any questions you might have. Please let Bruce Gaede know if you will be attending, [email protected] or 847-274-0541.
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United Thank Offering: Blue Boxes
If you would like a UTO collection box, they are at the back of the sanctuary on the table. Please return filled boxes on Pentecost Sunday - May 24th. Envelopes for checks made payable to the UTO will be available on May 24th as well. For more information about the UTO, visit
https://uto2014.wordpress.com/
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Christian Formation
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Lifelong Christian faith formation is important for lifelong growth in the knowledge, service and love of God as followers of Christ. Regardless of where you are on your spiritual journey, no matter what season of life you are in, you are invited to enter into a prayerful of continuous learning.
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Children's Formation
On Sunday mornings from 9:30 - 10:15, children (ages 3 - 12) are invited to take part in small groups that include Bible reading and response through arts and crafts, games, and other activities. There are three classes and this week's leaders are: Liz McElhatton / Luke Urbanowski(ages 3 - 5), Debra Bullock / Deane Johnson (ages 6 - 8), John Lucadamo / Lori Goede (ages 9 - 11).
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Fellowship
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Where are you today? Lonely and afraid? Joyful and confident? Somewhere in between? Wherever you are in your journey of faith, know that there is a place for you here, companionship for the journey in this community gathered.
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Clean-up St. Mark's Day!
Wednesday, April 22 is Earth Day. Friday, April 24 is Arbor Day. Saturday, April 25 is The Feast of St. Mark and so, to bring it all together and to bring us all together, everyone is invited to come to St. Mark's on
Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. as we clean up the grounds around us (picking up trash, cleaning up debris from the alley and parking areas, and generally sprucing things up). Please bring work gloves, rakes and shovels. We will have yard waste bags and trash bags on hand. We will then look great for Sunday, April 26th when we celebrate 151 Years of St. Mark's Being in Place, Growing in Faith, Living from the Center!
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?? Music Night??
If it's Wed
nesday Night it's Music Night at St. Mark's! Who will be the composer of the month? What will be the instrument of the fortnight? Will the
re be a quote of the week? Come and find out! Associate for Music Ministries, David Plank, leads "Music Night."
People with any level of musical background-even those with no music experience-are welcome to come upstairs to the choir room on Wednesday night from 6:00-7:30. Younger children, starting at age five, are welcome to join with all ages from 6:00-6:30. Youth and adults can come (or continue) from 6:30-7:30. Please contact David with any questions you may have at
[email protected].
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SMAC (St. Mark's Active/Adventurous Christians) - Youth Group
This Sunday, April 26 we will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the SMAC Room at St. Mark's (in the basement -- enter through the "choir house" doors off of Ridge Avenue). We'll eat dinner together and go from there. . . come and see! Questions: contact your somewhat fearless leaders, Pastor Debra at 847-732-9564 or Deane at 231-313-9217.
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This Week at Saint Mark's
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Wednesday, April 22
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday Lunch,
St. Mark's
6:00 p.m.
Music Night,
Choir Room
7:00 p.m.
Evanston Creative Writing Group,
Library or Panera
8:00 p.m.
Evanston English Country Dancers,
Cunningham Hall
Thursday, April 23
7:30 p.m.
Choir Rehearsal,
Choir Room
Friday, April 24
12:15 p.m.
YWCA Stand Against Racism,
St. Mark's
Saturday, April 25
9:00 a.m.
Clean Up St. Mark's Day,
St. Mark's
Sunday, April 26
8:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist,
Lady Chapel
9:30 a.m.
Children's Formation,
Classrooms
9:30 a.m.
Adult Formation,
Library
10:30 a.m.
Holy Eucharist
with Music,
Sanctuary
12 Noon
Hand Bell Choir Rehearsal,
Balcony
5:30 p.m.
SMAC Youth Group Meeting,
SMAC Room
Tuesday, April 28
6:00 p.m.
Wednesday Lunch Packing,
St. Mark's
7:30 p.m.
InterPlay Class,
Cunningham Hall
Wednesday, April 29
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday Lunch,
St. Mark's
6:00 p.m.
Music Night,
Choir Room
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| April 5 Sandra Howard April 6 Liz McElhatton April 7 Ellie Bergman April 9 Caroline Frowe Dan Whitmore April 10 Bob Barr April 11 Holly Yanaga Kendra Johnson April 16 Jeremy Greene April 18 Samuel Najem April 20 Owen Baker April 21 David Plank April 23 Rudy Burke Tim Himrod
April 28
Dick Brooks
Holly Benz
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April 10
Clark and Nasim Alexander
April 19
Gary and Liz McElhatton
April 26
Michael Schoen and Nathan Waller
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Social Justice & Outreach Opportunities
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St. Mark's continues its commitment to our community through its many social justice and outreach activities. Following are ways in which you can get involved with the St. Mark's community in helping to create a better world.
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Stand Against Racism
Evanston's 2015 Stand Against Racism will take place on Friday, April 24. Join St. Mark's as we make a public stand for equality and justice alongside the entire Evanston community. Meet us at St. Mark's Church at 12:15. We will line up on Ridge as a group from 12:30-12:55.
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|  Midweek Lunch Program Volunteers! Lunches are being packed on Tuesday evenings at 6 p.m. in Cunningham Hall. Lunches are being served on Wednesdays (volunteers are asked to arrive by 10:45 and stay until 1 p.m.). If you're interested in volunteering, please sign-up here:
For more information, contact Community Engagement Coordinator, Jacqui Zeng at [email protected]. |
Keeping God's People Safe Training
St. Mark's and
The Diocese of Chicago is committed to doing everything in its power to maintain a safe and supportive atmosphere for the children and adults who are members of its congregations, attend its programs or participate in its ministries. To foster a secure environment, we have developed Keeping God's People Safe, a two-level workshop training program that sensitizes all of those who work with children in our church to the dangers of child sexual abuse and teaches them to recognize and prevent situations in which abuse or exploitation might occur. Level one, called Protecting God's People, is required for all clergy, paid employees, those who provide pastoral services, and all persons - volunteer or paid - who work with children or youth or vulnerable adults. This training will be offered by Pastor Debra at St. Mark's on
Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. - noon
. There is no cost to attend, but you must RSVP to [email protected] so that we have an accurate headcount. This training is required every 5 years. If you are not sure if you should attend, please speak with Pastor Debra.
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Social Media and St. Mark's 
If you have your mobile device it would be good if you put it on silent when in worship. But if anything in Sunday's service - a prayer, reading, hymn or the sermon-moves you, please feel free to tweet it or post it to Facebook #StMarkEvanston. While you're at it, "check-in" with us on Foursquare!
St. Mark's website has up-to-date information on all that's new at St. Mark's - including a current calendar of events - check it out at http://www.stmarksevanston.org. Also, we are on Facebook and Twitter! Find us at http://www.facebook.com/StMarkEvanston and follow us @StMarkEvanston.
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In The Community
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God calls us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Loving finds all of its meaning in relationship. The following are opportunities to be in relationship with one another and with the community of Evanston.
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Adult InterPlay Group 
InterPlay is an easy to learn creative process that invites adult participants to express themselves through storytelling, movement and vocalization. Through well-established methods of play participants can simply have fun. They can also discover new things about themselves and others. InterPlayers across the world are celebrating its 25th birthday this year. You can be part of the party! No Prior Experience is Necessary. This class meets every Tuesday night in Cunningham Hall. The cost is $5 per session. Contact: Christina Ernst (847)899-5329.
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 Evanston English Country Dance Group
This group meets every other Wednesday in Cunningham Hall. All dances are taught and prompted. We learn English Country dances devised from pre-1650 to the present. Jane Austin would recongize much of the dancing we do. Once a month, we have live music performed by Putting on Aires; the other Wednesdays, the music is from an extensive CD collection. You are welcome to come with or without a partner. Wear comfortable shoes (the type you would use to walk a mile) and casual clothing. We ask for a $5 ($3 for students) admittance fee to cover the rent and to buy music for the band. For further information, contact Tom Senior 847-606-8704, [email protected].
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 Evanston Creative Writing Meetup
If you like to write and want a supportive environment in which to write, join us! Each week, a member volunteers to provide writing prompts to spark our creativity. It can be a first line, an object, a picture, a situation. For about 10-15 minutes we write and if we feel like sharing we read our creation aloud. This is not a critique group - only positive feedback is encouraged. We usually fit in 3-4 prompts in an evening. Member ages range from young adults to octagenarians. You do not have to be a serious or professional writer to participate. The group meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month in the Old Library at St. Mark's or Panera. For more information go to http://www.meetup.com/Evanston-Creative-Writing-Group/
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Parish Prayer List
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If you would like your loved ones added to (or removed from) the prayer list, please send an e-mail to [email protected]. Thank you.
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| We bid your prayers for: Helen Baker, Veronica Braithwaite, John Burnham, Tony Campise, Karen Cornelius, Bob Easton, Hal Griffith, Mary Hair, Charlie and Judy Kopp, Grace Lettner, Kathy Lettner, Ayden Lettner, Ann Lettner, Phyllis Lyons, Jake Morris, Mary O'Dowd, Jan and Jeri Offutt, Danny White, Char Wiss, Carol Albertson, Diana Austin, Carol Beatty, Roger Cain, Patricia Gosling, Susan Greene, Dave and Jan Gurniak, Andre King, Allison King, Marc King, OJ Mabwa, Melendez-Madrigal Family, Garrett Moody, Scott Moody, Tricia Moody, Leo Stuyt, Tim and his family, Jill Vannatta, Richard Walsh. We pray for those who have died: Jullia and Norma, friends of Judy Kopp. We pray for the people in: the Diocese of Southeast Mexico and in the Diocese of Renk. |
Stay Connected
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